I often try to integrate some errands in trips while I'm underway. For instance, I might look for a specific kind of store that is reasonably close to where I pass by.

I am trying to find out how to drive from A to B and where to find such a store using Google Maps.

As far as I have found out, I can find routes from A to B. Google Maps will then suggest several alternative routes and display them in the map.

However, it seems that while these routes are displayed, there is no way to search for the stores I am interested in. For that, I have to click the X to close the route search (which makes the routes disappear in the map), only then, the search box for searching for places appears again.

How can I display both the places and the routes at the same time (without going through workarounds of having to log in to Google and save maps temporarily)?

I have this same question too. The Google Maps app on iOS does it pretty well. It's disappointing that the Google Maps website doesn't seem to have this feature. It would be great if the website allowed a real "search along my route" feature and then displayed little info dots/bubbles on the map of each of the search results.
– RyanDec 30 '16 at 14:37

@Ryan: I am not sure Google Maps can sensibly know what is or is not "along my route" (depending on the location and urgency of the intermediate stop, deviations from the original route may or may not be acceptable).
– O. R. MapperDec 30 '16 at 18:11

It already works well on their Google Maps iOS app. They should just copy the same user interface onto the web.
– RyanDec 31 '16 at 17:57

@Ryan: I'll check that one out (but I don't currently know anyone in my place who owns any Apple devices, so it might take a while, though).
– O. R. MapperDec 31 '16 at 18:38

What would be better is if Google Maps allowed a real "search along my route" feature and then displayed little dots on the map of each of the search results. The Google Maps app on iOS does it pretty well. It's disappointing that the Google Maps website doesn't seem to have this feature.
– RyanDec 30 '16 at 14:36

Not quite; the order of intermediate stops depends on their location (which I do not know yet at the time of searching), and I might even drop some of them if none are near my main route. Also, I normally do not look for a specific store name, but for a category such as grocery store or gas station. Searching for those on Google Maps typically yields quite some false positives, and I may not want the (geographically) nearest one anyway, but the most conveniently reachable one. Hence, I cannot rely on Google Maps just picking "the closest one".
– O. R. MapperDec 30 '16 at 17:59